Swerve by Phillip Gwynne

Hugh is a 16 year old boy, he is one of the best young musicians in Australia and he is preparing for an audition at the prestigious Conservatorium. Hugh has a bright future. A future that has been decided by his parents, his teachers, by everybody, except himself. Hugh has a secret though, as much as he loves music, he loves cars and motor racing.When his newly discovered grandfather, Poppy, asks him to go on a road trip to Uluru in his 1970 Holden HT Monaro, Hugh decides, for once in his life, to do the unexpected.

This title has been shortlisted for Prime Minister's Literary Awards, Young Adult's Fiction, Queensland Premier's Literary Awards, Best Young Adult Book and Victorian Premier's Literary Awards, Prize for Young Adult Fiction on 2010.


Gwynne, Phillip. Swerve. Camberwell, Victoria :Penguin, 2009.

The Night Has a Thousand Eyes : A Novel by Mandy Sayer

Mark has to flee for his life, after he fires an air gun through the window of his father's shed, he's afraid he may have damaged something, but when peering through the broken window, he sees such a horrifying sight. Ruby, his older sister, has to handle the family's van and together with him and the baby sister set off on a frightening adventure across country, escaping the past and their violent father. In this electrifying road novel of family secrets, small-town scandals, murder and manslaughter, the author cleverly weaves raw suspense with exquisite prose. The Night Has a Thousand Eyes is a vivid and haunting tale of three kids on the run, because sometimes, all you can do, is run.

• This novel was nominated for the Ned Kelly Awards for crime writing, Best Novel, 2008 and won the Davitt Award for best young fiction book on 2008.

Sayer, Mandy. The night has thousand eyes : a novel, Pymble, N.S.W. : Fourth Estate, 2007.

Journey to the Stone Country by Alex Miller

Deceived by her husband, Annabelle Beck retreats from Melbourne to her old family home in tropical North Queensland where she meets Bo Rennie, one of the Jangga tribe. Bo claims that he holds the key to her future; Annabelle sets out with him on a path of recovery that leads back to her childhood memories and to the Jangga’s ancient heartland. This road travel of self-discovery, secrets and love will unravel family history and secrets, will challenge the possibility of their happiness together. This is a superbly compelling work of betrayal, compassion, love and reconciliation.

Miller’s new novel, Journey to the stone country, winner of the 2003 Miles Franklin Award, follows his previous best-selling prize-winning novels, The Ancestor Game and Conditions of Faith. This work demonstrates Miller’s reputation as one’s of the Australia’s most intelligent and uncompromising writers.

Miller, Alex. Journey to the stone country, Crows Nest, N.S.W. : Allen and Unwin, 2002.